Girl and Council Advocacy
Information on Advocacy Champions.
Alabama Healthy Media Images- Community Conversation
On Friday, May 6, 2011, Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) and the Children’s Policy Council of Jefferson County hosted a Healthy Media Images Community Conversation. The event highlighted panelists that discussed the impact of media images on children, especially young girls. The panel included Heather Austin, Ph.D., Children's Hospital; Tina Savas, Author, Women of True Grit; Brittany Trotman, BeautyGirlMag.com editor; and America Hosch, a current Girl Scout. The panelists helped identify solutions to help young people encounter media images that inspire, empower and engage. The Community Conversation brought awareness to not just what kids watch, but how they watch it, emphasizing that every child should be influenced by media that promotes confidence and character. Along with GSNCA, the event was co-hosted by Kappa Delta, the Children’s Policy Council of Jefferson County and Bright House Networks.
South Carolina Honorary Girl Scout Troop at the State House
In Columbia, South Carolina, women from the State Legislature came together on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, to form the first-ever South Carolina Honorary Girl Scout Troop. They were given the troop number 1912, in recognition of the year Girl Scouts was founded. The troop includes all 16 women in the South Carolina State Legislature. Both Girl Scout councils that cover South Carolina, Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina and Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands, played host to the late afternoon event across the street from the State Capitol.
According to Kim Hutzell, President/CEO, Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands, the two councils formed Honorary Girl Scout Troop 1912 so that Girl Scouts can work in partnership with women members of the state legislature to substantively address issues that impact girls.
The program also included remarks by Rep. Laurie Funderburk, Chairwoman, South Carolina General Assembly Women’s Caucus and Phonecia Hughes, a Columbia-area Girl Scout Ambassador and Gold Award recipient.
In the remarks from Loretta Graham, CEO, Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, she addressed the Girl Scouts’ legislative agenda which includes four areas of interest: promoting girls’ physical, social and emotional health; increasing girls’ involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); advancing girls and leadership development; and, strengthening financial literacy. She stated, “Within those categories, we have identified the issue of Healthy Media Images as especially stressful to girls and one which, with the help of our elected officials, we believe we can make an impact.”
Vermont Girl Scouts Take Action Against Bullying
Girls from the Girl Scout Council of Vermont conducted an in-depth research project that surveyed over 200 girls ages 11-18 for a report entitled What Teen Girls Say About Bullying and Harassment. Teen girl members designed and conducted the survey themselves. The girls also presented their findings and testimony to the Vermont Council on Women, the state's Department of Education, and state legislators during the Vermont Teen Advocacy Day. A month after their release of the study, a bill, H.486, related to cyberbullying and bullying in school was introduced in the Vermont legislature.
The Girl Scout Council of Vermont legislative interns made incredible strides with advocating for girls' health and safety during the Vermont Teen Advocacy Day.
The Vermont Girl Scouts show that through taking action to influence change, they empower themselves and others to make the world a better place. To find out more about their story, check out the Fall 2008 Issue of Leader, the Girl Scout volunteer magazine.
Louisiana Councils Create Honorary Girl Scout Troop for Female Legislators
Girl Scouts’ ranks just grew 22 members stronger with the addition of the women members of the Louisiana legislature. The state legislators became members of an honorary Girl Scout troop, Troop Louisiana, during a pinning ceremony April 20 at the Governor’s Mansion. The two Girl Scout councils in the state - Girl Scouts Louisiana East and Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf, hosted the luncheon at the mansion with Girl Scouts from across Louisiana conducting a flag and investiture ceremony. Fifteen of the 22 legislators attended, along with council board members, volunteers and staff, and representatives from the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus.
